ECP's Election Special captures the NELincs Political story that hit the national headlines

When Grimsby Telegraph Business Editor, David Laister attended the Business Hive’s Question Time style debate between representatives of the local political parties, little did anyone realise the National recognition the story would receive. The event was filmed by Grimsby based TV production company East Coast Pictures, and today (Monday 16th March) the programme, titled ‘A Question of Business in North East Lincolnshire’ goes live for everyone to watch.

Business Hive Questions, which took place on Monday 16th February at Cleethorpes' Parkway Cinema, gave the local business community an opportunity to grill candidates from all major parties on several burning topics regarding industry and the economy. The event soon made the national headlines thanks to remarks made by Victoria Ayling, the UKIP candidate for Grimsby, and the comments of Grimsby Telegraph's Business Editor, David Laister.

Julia Thompson, Executive Producer of East Coast Pictures said:
“This was bound to be a very interesting, important debate, and we wanted to make sure the wider business community, not just those that were present, could watch the event so they can make an informed decision in the upcoming general election.

The East Coast Pictures team included Mike Best, former News Editor for ITV Yorkshire and Chair of the Yorkshire Centre of the Royal Television Society. He said,
‘ This was a high quality debate around genuine regional issues, it's great to see the wider public being given the opportunity to hear the discussion.

Business Hive Questions was organised by The Business Hive, a business club supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in the area and hosted by the organisation's Managing Director Mark Webb. He said:
“The Business Hive is all about the local business community, and it is a community with so much invested in the future of the area that I felt it was right that the owners and managers of these businesses should be able to question the prospective parliamentary candidates and find out what policies their respective parties have that would help support small business.

“The event itself was outstanding, with nearly 200 business people and entrepreneurs representing over 100 businesses, the politicians had their work cut out for them. I am delighted to say they all took part with determination and conviction, trying to give real answers to the pressing questions they were asked.”

The event was supported by InvestNEL, the local organisation that supports investment by businesses into the region.

The East Coast Pictures crew were joined by Patrick Titley, an ITV Director, who was very impressed with the professionalism of the team many of whom travelled home from their bases across the UK to take part in the production. Julia says,
We are very proud to have a track record of launching careers in the industry, and enjoy producing programmes like this that ultimately leads to employment in the TV, digital and media sectors. Former East Coast Pictures camera operator, Andy Harris, began working for Simon Cowell's production company, Syco Entertainment, in 2014.”

The East Coast Pictures crew came together from all corners of the country, including Dan Clarke, having worked with photographer Rankin and now based in London and Leasha Waddingham, a student of Salford University.

A 60 minute highlights show A Question of Business in North East Lincolnshire is now available to watch online. (Monday 16th March)

Quotation from Mark Webb, Managing Director of The Business Hive:
“The Business Hive is all about the local business community, and it is a community with so much invested in the future of the area that I felt it was right that the owners and managers of these businesses should be able to question the prospective parliamentary candidates and find out what policies their respective parties have that would help support small business. Local businesses employ nearly half of the adults in this area so it is imperative the entrepreneurs and business leaders are heard by the politicians of the day.

“The event itself was outstanding, with nearly 200 business people and entrepreneurs representing over 100 businesses, the politicians had their work cut out for them. I am delighted to say they all took part with determination and conviction, trying to give real answers to the pressing questions they were asked.

“The question on renewables was bound to be a hot topic, mainly because this area has its economic future sewn up in offshore wind farms and because UKIP have controversial views on the subject. I was expecting a robust debate on this and I wasn’t disappointed. The comments made that night lit up twitter that night and the next day national and international media were carrying the comments made by the UKIP candidate.

“The whole event was professional, democratic and very engaging. The first time all five main parties have been on stage together in this election and certainly the first time any of them have faced a local Business audience. The feedback has been incredible and we have already agreed to run another in 2016, where the business community will be able to ask more searching questions and hold to account the elected and would be elected representatives of our area.”

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